Political Parties

Widely shared demand for change in some aspect in the social or political order.

Interest Groups

Organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influences public policy.

Define: Divided Government

One party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of congress.

Define: Split-Ticket voting. How does it affect divided government?

Voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election

The increase in split-ticket voting can increase the divide in government. The divide between parties causes gridlock.

Explain: Realigning Elections.

Election in which popular favor switches from one party to another

Define: Realigning Period

Periods when a major, lasting shift occurs in the popular support of one or both parties

The shift from a Republican control of both Congress and the presidency to just to the presidency to Democratic control of both Congress and the presidency does constitute a realigning period because the popular support of the nation shifted from Republican control to Democratic control.

Define: Primary Elections

Political parties select candidates.

Define: General Elections

Public chooses from candidates for an officeholder.

Define: Front-loading.

Making primaries earlier and earlier in the year; this allows for candidates to be chosen earlier and therefore have more time to campaign

Explain what the winner-take-all, single member district means. How does it impede the development of third parties in the US?

One member of Congress is elected from each district. The winner of the most popular vote wins all electoral votes. Third parties never get a majority.

What is a third party?

Not a major party; formed to cause a change. They bring up issues that main parties must address.

Define: Ideological Parties

Parties professing a comprehensive view of American society and government radically different from the established parties. Most have been Marxist in outlook, but some are quite the opposite, such as the Libertarian party.

One-Issue Parties

Parties seeking a single policy, usually revealed by their names, and avoiding other issues

Economic-Protest Parties

Parties, usually based in a particular region, especially involving farmers, that protest against depressed economic conditions. These tend to disappear as conditions improve.

What are the three roles of political parties?

1.) Labeling groups of people with common interests.2.) Organizing the groups of individuals.

3.) Giving the group a set of leaders to promote their ideals/spread their ideas.

What is a One-Party System?

One dominant party controls the government.

What is a Two-Party System?

Two parties compete for control of the government.

What is a Multi-Party system?

Three or more parties compete for control of the government; majority of the votes may not be the majority of the nation.

Explain: Nominating Function

Selecting candidates to run for office.

Explain: Informer/Stimulator Function

Campaign for the candidates.

Explain: Bonding Agent function

Ensures good performance of candidates.

Explain: Governing Function

Provides a basis for conduct in the government.

Explain: Watchdog Function

Act as watchdogs over the state of the public’s business.

Explain: Party Identification

Process by which voters choose which party to support and why..

How does ideology influence party identification?

People tend to identify with their party.

How does education influence party identification?

The more education a person has, the more left they tend to be.

How does income influence party identification?

The lower and income someone has, the more left they tend to be.

How does occupation influence party identification?

White collar vs. blue collar; occupation determines income.

How does marital status influence party identification?

married vs. single gap; people tend to identify politically with their spouse.

How does race/ethnicity influence party identification?

Minorities tend to be more liberal.

How does gender influence party identification?

Women tend to be more democratic.

How does religion influence party identification?

The more orthodox a person is, the more right they tend to be.

How does family tradition influence party identification?

People tend to vote like their families.

How does region influence party identification?

Urban areas tend to be more liberal, and rural areas tend to be more conservative.

The two-party system originated with Jefferson and Hamilton. It was maintained by means of choosing candidates through primaries and convention because those elections are party-like establishment (they present differing opinions). The winner-take-all method of electing also favors a two-party system.

What parties were dominant in 1796-1824?

First parties of Democratic-Republicans vs. Federalists; the Federalist party dissolved and the second party system emerged in 1824 with the Jacksonian Democrats vs. the Whigs.

What political parties were in 1828-1856?

The old parties divided because of the issues of slavery and sectionalism into the modern Republican party (anti-slavery) and the Democratic party (pro-slavery). The Republican party became a major party after the Civil War (Right before and up to 1860s).

What political parties were in 1860-1928?

William Jennings Bryan, a populist Democrat, strengthened the Republican party by alienating northern voters but attracting Southern/Midwestern voters. Furthered the North vs. South split (lots of one-party states). The progressive Mugwumps of the Republican party tried to maintain a balance of power between the parties and later worked to reform political corruption. Republicans stood for big business and Democrats stood for farm states.

What happened to political parties between 1932-1964?

The Democrats under Roosevelt came to office, and the New Deal brought urban workers, northern blacks, southern whites, and Jewish voters into the Democratic party. Realigned the parties.

What's happened to political parties since 1968?

The south became more strongly Republican than the nation as a whole and independents have increased. Party alignment has shifted from 1 Democrats : 6 Republicans in 1952 to about 50/50, showing a possible realignment period.

Explain: Dealignment

Political party falls out of existence and is replaced; Example: The Whigs

Explain: Realignment

Party’s stance on issues switches; Example: The Democrats and Republicans between 1896 and 1932

Explain how the national committee organizes the American political parties.

Head of a party; runs the party (the head of the committee is the chairperson).

Explain how the national convention organizes the American political parties.